Machine for wrapping cigarettes



Al1g 26, 1952 B. ABRAMowsKl k 2,608,039

. MACHINE FOR WRAPPING CIGARETTES Filed Aug. 2, 1949 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 OFFICE l t FORv WRAPPING CIGARETTES Bruno Abramowski, Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Application August 2, 1949, Serial No. 108,195?. In Germany June 13, 1949 This invention relates to a machine .for lwrapping cigarettes and other articles and more particularly to a method bywhich all forming and Afolding operations von the wrapping 4blank are done around Vthe article itself.

Most of the customary methods for wrapping cigarette packages and the like require that the wrapping blanks are first folded and sealed into a tubular form and then bottom folded and sealed on one end, the other end remaining open to receive the 'package later on. These preparatory operations on the Wrapper blanks forming the hull into which later on the package or article is introduced are mostly performed with tools, dies, form blocks. etc. arranged in devices on conveyors or turret heads from which the so preparedhulls are then ejected. They have to `be picked up and arranged again for the actual .packing operation,

vwhich is by this method an additional Working operation.

One feature of the present invention is that it avoids this additional working operation necessary with the method above described. The pack- .age orarticle vto be wrapped is placed directly on av flat Wrapping blank and `all operations as folding, tucking, sealing etc. are performed after the article is in'place within the lvvrapper.

Another feature is a new and efficient wrapping method and' arrangement .by which the package is ylaterally carried onto the wrapping blank held in cavities or pockets arranged at operation stations on a conveyor or lturret head. All Wrapping operations. are done in place until the ready package is removed. Thus much handling and time is saved.

Other features and advantages will become apparent on hand of the following specification. The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention in connection with a turret head. It is to be understood, however, that the operations and methods according to my invention may be performed -as well on a suitable conveyor without departing from its spirit and scope.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side View of the turret head partly sectioned to show more detail;

Fig. 2 is a front View of the turret head partly as section on the line A-B 'of Fig. 1, rwith diagrammatical indication of a blank feed;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing diagrammatically the arrangement yfor carrying the article into the wrapper blank showing also a partial section on the line C-D of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section of a turret head with a modied construction of pockets; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a further modification employing a different lining for the pockets.

The pockets I arranged around the outer circumference of the turret head 2 replace the .customary tools, form blocks, and dies generally found on machines for the present purpose. The pockets I are provided withk perforated suction linings 3. The space behind these linings is con*- nected to the hub of the turret head by .suction passages d. All suction passages are connected at the hub where a contro-l valve 5 is interposed and from where alp-ipe leads to a suitable vacuum source. Suction may thereby be applied to any pocket as required duringthe Wrapping process. The number of pockets l corresponds to the number of operation steps necessary to complete .the work cycle, for example, side folding, tucking-in, bcttomfolding, top folding, sealing, drying and to complete the wrapping process. `Arranged laterally from the turret head, not shown in the drawing but in a well known manner, are the several tools and'devices to perform the above operation steps.V The turret head revolves Yduring operation intermittentlyfrom one station to the next in the direction of rotation 2 starting with station 6' where the [wrapper blank is .inserted following successively all stations until station t where the ready wrapped package is ejected.

The Wrapping blanks are fed onto the turret 4.head by a suction nozzle and a suitable feeding device from a supply hopper Ba, yat position E'. At the moment feeding takes place a pocket is registered at station 6 and the blank slides on top of this pocket under a plunger 8 which kis not revolving but stationary mounted at this station. The 'plunger now descends into the pocket taking the blank with it so it lines the pocket lying close to the suction lining andattaining thereby U-shape as indicated at 6. `Manipulation of control valve 5 will now supply suction to this pocket through suction passage and theiperforation in the lining which will hold the ib-lank in place while the plunger ascends. The turret head now turns until the pocket with its empty blank registers at station 6. According to this invention, the package is laterally introduced into the empty U-shaped wrapper .blank at, this station; As shown in Fig. 3,'.the cigarettes 9 dropping out of a supply hopper i0 are carried forward ona conveyor Vtoreceive van inner enclosure of tinfoil or other suitable material. This `operation may be performedk in any conventional mannerand a supply bobbin rwith tinfoil web or the like Il is shown diagrammatically in the drawing from which the enclosure blanks are cut. The drawing illustrates my method by which the enclosure web, descending somewhat through the conveyor, is being cut at the moment the cigarettes, carried forward, push against it. In this manner the enclosure Il extends in one piece, U-shaped around one end, on `both sides for the Whole length of the cigarettes. This kind of enclosure is to be preferred as it prevents unnoticed taking out of cigarettes `at the bottom of the package without disturbing the tax stamp at the top. The cigarettes so enclosed are now carried forward into the U-shaped wrapping blank '5' where a suitable stop I2 (Fig. 3) locates the package properly. So introduced, the package is now advanced in the turret head to the subsequent stations |where in steps, as already mentioned, the Wrapping is completed and the ready sealed and dried package ejected at station E".

- As indicated in the modication shown in Fig. 4, the plunger 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) may be omitted when the suction lining of the pockets l is in any way movably arranged in such a manner that itmay emerge out of the pocket into a at position beneath a supply hopper 6a as indicated at l (Fig. 4). To arrange the lining movable, I have fastened the sides of it by hinges to the bottom with Springs introduced urging the sides outward. VIf such a lining emerges from the pocket, the sidesV flap outward and it lies at across the top of the pocket as shown at i and I'f. Care has to be taken that joints and abutments are tight so that the vacuum beneath the lining is not considerably reduced by this movement. The suction lining with its perforations so brought into close contact with the wrapping blank at the bottom in hopper 6a will suck a blank With it when it retreats into the pocket, giving it a vU-shape as desired. The movable linings are operated by a suitable mechanism in synchronism with the revolving turret head. They emerge at station 6" to eject a ready package and retreat at station 6' after suction has been applied to this Pocket. At all other stations they remain retreated. Besides using hinged sides it is also possible to have the sides fixed and the bottom sliding between them, as shown in Fig. 5, without changing the nal result. Pockets equipped with these modied linings permit higher speed of operation as the time required for ascension of the 'plunger 3 is saved.

'Besides wrapping cigarettes and other articles in the manner above described, it is also possible to use the same facilities for forming cardboard boxes with slide covers. For this purpose cardboard blanks with incisions for the edges are introduced into the pockets of the turret head and the box formed. At a proper station the blank for the slide cover is pushed on and folded around the box so the box with cover is completed at one turn of the turret head.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I dot not wish to be limited thereto, but desire the appended claim to be construed as broadly as possible in view of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for wrapping cigarettes in which an outer Wrapper is positioned on a carrier at a rst stage, cigarettes wrapped in tin foil are positioned on the wrapper on the carrier at a second stage, the wrapper is wrapped around the cigarettes at subsequent stages and the wrapped cigarettes are discharged at a nal stage, the carrier then repeating the cycle; a, rotatable cylindrical carrier having a plurality of U-shaped pockets in its periphery, means establishing communication between each of said pockets and a source of vacuum at said rst stage, and a flexible perforate lining for each of said pockets, each lining at said final stage being allowed to assume a normal flat position outside its associated pocket for reception of a wrapper at said rst stage, said lining and said wrapper being drawn into said pocket to conform to the U-shape thereof upon application of vacuum at said first stage, whereby said lining and said Wrapper are shaped to receive cigarettes at said Y second stage.

2. In a machine for wrapping cigarettes in which a Wrapper is positioned in a pocket at a rst stage, cigarettes are positioned in the pocket at a second stage, the wrapper is wrapped around the cigarettes at succeeding stages and the wrapped cigarettes are discharged from the pocket at a final stages, a rotatable cylinder having a pluralityy of spaced pockets in its periphery,

means for establishing communication between a vacuum source and each of said pockets, a valve controlling communication between said source and said means so that each pocket is subjected to vacuum at said first stage, and a, flexible perforate lining for each of said pockets, each lining at said nal stage being allowed to assume a normal ilat position outside the pocket so as to receive a Wrapper at said first stage, said lining and said wrapper being drawn into the associated pocket to conform to the U-shape thereof upon application of vacuum at said first stage, whereby said lining and said wrapper are shaped to receive cigarettes thereinat said second stage.

3.. A machine for wrapping cigarettes comprising a rotatable cylinder, said cylinder having a plurality of U-shaped pockets formed in its periphery at spaced intervals, said cylinder having a tubular hub, means establishing communication between said hub and each of said pockets, said hub being in communication with a vacuum source, a valve positioned in said hub and controlling communication between saidV hub and said means, and a flexible perforate lining for each of said pockets, each lining normally lying outside its associated pocket and being dat for reception of a cigarette wrapper, said lining and said Wrapper being drawn into said pocket to conform to the U-shape thereof due to the vacuum pressure condition in said pocket when said lining receives said wrapper.

fl. In a machine as claimed in claim 1, each of said linings comprising a bottom portion and two side portions, said side portions being hingedly connected to said bottom portion, means for urging said side portions outwardly, and means for urging said bottom portion out of its as'- sociated pocket, whereby said lining normally assumes a nat position on the periphery of said carrier.

.5. In a machine as claimed iny claim 1, each of said linings comprising a movable bottom portion and two fixed side portions, and means for urging said bottom portion out of its associated pocket. whereby said lining normally assumes a flat position on the periphery of said carrier. Y

6. In a machine as claimed in claim 1, a hopper located at said rst stage adjacent the periphery of said carrier, and a plurality of wrappers positioned in said hopper, said wrappers being Withdrawn one at a, time from said hopper, received by one of said linings and drawn into one of said pockets, upon application of vacuum to said pocket at said rst stage.

BRUNO ABRAMOWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED le of this patent:

Numbel` UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Craggs Jan. 18, 1916 Becker June 5, 1934 Rose Aug. 6, 1935 Smith et a1 Oct. 8, 1935 Chalmers July 1, 1941 Salfisberg June 7, 1949 

